Paul Broadbent, acting Assistant Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, told people to stay away, adding: "Some roads are flooded and others have been badly damaged."

At least 1,400 people were forced to spend Monday night in makeshift shelters after the rivers Don and Sheaf burst their banks in the worst deluge since records began. More than 200 evacuated residents returned to their swamped homes yesterday.

Paul Tudor, 25, from Barnsley, stayed at Sheffield Town Hall after being stranded while on a shopping trip. He said: "Everybody has been really brilliant. They gave us big duvets and pillows and somebody came around with pizza. It was kind of exciting."

Linda Hartley, 44, from Rotherham, slept at Sheffield University. She said: "I saw cars floating down the street and people holding on to lamp-posts. It was terrible."

Gogo Manyoni, who is in her late 60s, was airlifted from a car after being stranded for six hours with her grandson and his wife. She said: "We pay a lot of money for horror films and call them thrills but we were the actors in this thriller so we decided to enjoy it. We actually got seasick."

Peter Lowe, 59, who is retiring from his office interiors firm on Friday, said: "I've worked here for 41 years and I really just wanted to sit here this week and put my feet up on my desk, which I've never done before.

"Instead I'm shovelling water out of the building, but it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience - I hope."

Sheffield City Council praised the emergency services and the "terrific" response of residents. The city's MPs will ask the government for help.

Last night the North East had 16 severe weather warnings - the highest in the UK.